The present invention is directed to a device for providing transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS) to the finger of a patient at the same time that the finger is being punctured for the purpose of obtaining a blood sample. The device should reduce the pain associated with this procedure and should be of particular interest to diabetic patients that must perform repeated finger puncture procedures to monitor blood glucose levels.
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1. A device for puncturing the finger of a patient for the purpose of obtaining a blood sample comprising:
a) a stabilization block comprising a finger opening of sufficient size to permit the insertion of a patient's finger;
b) at least two electrodes mounted on the inner surface of said finger opening and positioned so as to contact a patient's finger when inserted into said finger opening; and
c) a lancet opening in said stabilization block, which may be the same as said finger opening or separate from said finger opening, through which a lancet may pass to puncture a patient's finger when inserted into said finger opening
d) electrical circuitry coupled to said electrodes wherein said circuitry includes an electric pulse generator capable of delivering pulses of electricity across said electrodes when connected by a patient's finger.
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The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60/476,195, filed on Jun. 6, 2003, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.
The United States Government has a paid-up license in this invention and the right in limited circumstances to require the patent owner to license others in reasonable terms as provided for by the terms of NIH Grant No. CA80153 awarded by the Department of Health and Human Services.
The present invention is directed to a medical device that can be used to puncture a patient's finger and to methods by which the device is used for obtaining a blood sample. The device reduces the amount of pain experienced by the patient by applying transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) at the same time that the skin of the finger is penetrated. The invention should be of particular benefit to diabetic patients who must regularly monitor blood sugar levels.
Approximately 16 million Americans have diabetes and must regularly monitor their blood sugar levels. Kits for assaying blood glucose concentration at home came onto the market approximately 20 years ago and have replaced urine testing as the preferred method for assessing how well a patient's diabetes is being controlled. The kits typically require that a patient puncture a finger with a lancet to obtain a sample for testing. These procedures may be performed several times a day and, due to the high concentration of pain receptors in the fingertips, cause considerable discomfort.
One method of alleviating pain that has been used in other contexts has involved delivering mild pulses of electricity across electrodes taped to a patient's skin (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,147,171). The pulses are applied in the region of a patient's body where pain is occurring and appear to interfere with the neuronal transmission of pain signals. The technique has been termed “transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation” (TENS) and devices for controlling pain using the technique are currently being marketed by several companies, including 3M, American Imex and EMPI. Improvements in TENS technology have generally involved altering the characteristics of the electrical impulses delivered (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,431,002; 5,109,847; 3,902,50; 5,350,414; 5,069,211; 4,989,605; and 5,052,391) and in miniaturizing devices to make them more portable or more comfortable for use by patients (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,397,338; 6,445,955; and 6,023,642). A TENS device that could be conveniently used by diabetic patients to reduce the pain that they experience in monitoring blood sugar levels could significantly improve the quality of life for these patients.
The present invention is based upon the development of a device specifically designed to alleviate the pain associated with obtaining blood samples by puncturing a patient's finger. Pain sensations are dulled by applying TENS impulses at the same time that the puncture is made. The device is convenient to use and may be employed either in a clinical setting or at home.
In its first aspect, the invention is directed to the device described above. The device includes a stabilization block that will typically be made of metal (e.g., stainless steel) or plastic. The block has a finger opening which is of a size sufficient to permit a patient to insert their finger prior to puncturing. In general, the finger opening will have a diameter of approximately 1.5-3.0 cm. A preferred configuration of the finger opening is as an elongated trough approximately 1-11 cm in length. Mounted on the inner surface of the finger opening are at least two electrodes that are positioned so as to contact a patient's finger when inserted. Preferably, the electrodes are in the form of, or attached to, contact pads made of electrically conductive material, e.g., electrically conductive rubber. It is also preferred that the pads be mounted in such a manner as to compress a patient's finger. For example, one or both of the pads may be spring-loaded or attached to compressible material.
The device also may include standard electrical circuitry that is coupled to the electrodes and capable of delivering pulses of electricity across the electrodes when connected by a patient's finger. Alternatively, the electrical circuitry may be supplied by a separate device such as one of the TENS devices that are presently on the market (see e.g., devices of 3M, American Imex or EMPI). Any of the basic electrical circuits and configurations that have been described in the art for applying TENS impulses may be used in conjunction with the present invention (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,431,002; 4,989,605; 5,052,391; 5,397,338; or 6,445,955). The electrical circuitry should be capable of supplying a minimum of 50 milliamps to the electrodes mounted in the finger opening and should preferably include a regulator for adjusting the intensity and frequency of impulses.
In addition, the stabilization block must have a “lancet opening” that provides access to a patient's finger and permits a puncture to be made. This lancet opening need not necessarily be separate from the finger opening. For example, in the device shown in
The stabilization block of the device described above may be mounted on a base unit such as that shown in
In one preferred embodiment, the devices described above include a lancet opening that is separate from the finger opening and which is also located in the stabilization block. The lancet opening connects to the finger opening and provides a passageway through which a lancet mounted in the lancet opening may make contact with a patient's finger. As used herein, the term “lancet” includes any lance, lancet, needle, laser or other device used in the art for performing a skin puncture. Mechanical lancets mounted in the stabilization should generally include means by which they can be mechanically propelled into a patient's finger. For example, the lancet may be spring-loaded and connected to a release that can be activated at the time the TENS impulses are being applied to a patient's finger.
In another aspect, the invention is directed to a method of obtaining a blood sample from a patient by performing a finger puncture with a lancet while concurrently numbing the finger using TENS impulses. Preferably, this method is performed using a device with the characteristics described above.
The present invention is directed to a device that can be used to apply TENS pulses to a patient's finger during the time at which a blood sample is being taken. Its main components are shown in
The stabilization block must contain an opening into which a patient's finger may be inserted. In the figure, this is shown in its preferred configuration which is in the form of an elongated trough. The trough must be wide enough to accommodate a patient's finger, roughly 1.5-3.0 cm in width, and long enough to accommodate a sufficient portion of fingertip to contact the electrodes. In general, the length will be between about 1 and 11 cm, with a length of about 3-8 cm being typical.
The stabilization block must include at least two electrodes, preferably mounted on either side of the inner surface of the finger opening. The electrode on the left side of the finger opening is shown in
The device may also include a base unit (6) on which the stabilization block can be mounted for further support. In order to secure this stabilization block to the base unit, screws may be inserted in appropriately matched holes (5 and 7). Other methods of maintaining good contact between the stabilization block and the base unit can also be used, such as clamps, bolts or by designing the components in a manner that prevents lateral movement of the stabilization block after mounting
The device also includes, or can be connected to, electrical circuitry for delivering TENS impulses across the electrodes and to a patient's finger (not shown in
The stabilization block must include an opening that allows a patient's finger to be punctured by a lancet while TENS pulses are being delivered. This “lancet opening” may be the same as the finger opening or constitute a separate part of the stabilization block. For example, in
Using the device involves a patient inserting their finger into the finger opening in a manner that allows it to be compressed by the contact pads. Once inside, TENS impulses are delivered to the finger to a degree sufficient to dull pain sensations. The frequency and amplitude of pulses necessary to achieve such an effect will vary from patient to patient and it is therefore preferable that electrical circuitry allow patients to modulate pulse amplitude, frequency and width. Typically, good results should be obtainable using 5-70 milliamps, a frequency of 50-100 Hz, and a pulse width of 50-200 microseconds. With experience, a patient should be able to select parameters that produce an optimal degree of numbing.
Concurrently with the application of TENS stimulation, the patient's finger is punctured using a lancet, lance, needle or other similar device. Suitable implements are commercially available and procedures for performing finger punctures are well known in the art. The instruments used for penetrating skin should, of course, be sterile, disposable, and the skin being punctured may optionally be treated with an antiseptic agent, such as alcohol, prior to penetration. Spring-loaded lancets may also be used and as noted above, may optionally be suspended within the device. Lancets, including spring loaded lancets, suitable for use in the device are manufactured and sold by many different companies, including Lifescan, Becton Dickinson, Bayer Diagnostics, Owen Mumford, and Roche Diagnostics. The term “lancet” as used herein includes mechanical devices as well as lasers that have been approved for skin penetration, such as those manufactured by Cell Robotics. Although the devices described herein are the most preferred for obtaining blood samples using a finger puncture technique, other devices for applying TENS stimulation can also be used, with the only requirement being that they be adaptable for applying electrical impulses to the finger of a patient.
The devices of the present invention can be used in any setting in which blood samples are obtained from a patient's finger. For example, they can be used in a hospital or physician's office to obtain samples for testing or for drug screening procedures. It is believed that diabetic patients that monitor blood sugar levels at home will benefit most from the use of the devices. These patients often must obtain multiple blood samples in a day and the present devices should make this task considerably more bearable.
All references cited herein are fully incorporated by reference. Having now fully described the invention, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that the invention may be performed within a wide and equivalent range of conditions, parameters and the like, without affecting the spirit or scope of the invention or any embodiment thereof.
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